Summary

In Chapter 37, Bruce reflects on scenes from his childhood and what his life could have been had he followed in his father's footsteps. He will draw upon his working-class roots for his next album "Darkness on the Edge of Town." Although, "in true American fashion [he has] escaped the shackles of birth, personal history and, finally, place" he feels uneasy about his disconnection from his roots (262). He finds inspiration in working-class blues music and begins to explore questions of socio-economics as they relate to people like his parents. As such, his music begins "to have more political implications" (267).

The release of "Darkness on the Edge of Town" relaunches Bruce's career after the hiatus he had to take during legal battles with Mike Appel. The success of their tour convinces people that Bruce is not just a "flash...